History of the Regiment
Created at Calais the 25 of march 1776 under the name of "Régiment de Ponthieu". Renamed "Régiment d'Austrasie" the 31 May 1776. Renamed 8e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne" in 1791.
During the French Revolution, he took part on the campaign of Belgium, occupied the Nederlands and the North of Germany.
Allocated in the Rhein Army in 1799, he participated at the Battle of Stockach, d'Heidelberg and Brakenheim. The regiment received his Eagle at the Champ de Mars, the 5th December of 1804, 3 days after the Coronation of Emperor Napoléon.
He fought at Ligny and at Waterloo during the 100 Days Period.
Participated in the Spain Campaign in 1823 and the Morean Campaign in 1828-1829, sieged Coron, the Greek garnison surrendered to the French troops.
1859: Italian Campaign, battle of Solférino 1870: Franco-Prussian war, battle of Sarrebruck, Forbach-Spicheren, Sedan and siege of Paris.
During the Great War, he fought on a lot of great battles like Charleroi, Dinant, Guisen, la Marne, Champagne, Verdun, la Somme, offensive de l'Aisne (Le Chemin des Dames).
«Magnifique régiment. Engagé dans toutes les grandes actions de la campagne, ne recula jamais devant les attaques de l'ennemi ; jamais l'ennemi ne put résister au choc de ses assauts.» Poincaré, 1920.
He receives the Cross of the Legion of Honor on September 20th, 1920. |
Face of the flag of the 8e (1914)
|